The Admiral's Queries

Posted on Thu Dec 19th, 2024 @ 7:48am by Captain Rovak & The Commander & Vice Admiral Lucas Gali

1,197 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Masters of the Stars [2]
Location: USS Excalibur, Bridge
Timeline: 1630 - MD01

Rovak had accompanied Admiral Gali aboard the Excalibur at his request. The Admiral hadn’t expanded on why he wanted Rovak with him, but he got the impression that Gali may have entirely disbelieved in the Commander’s existence.

Gali made an impressed whistle when they reached the bridge. “Very slick. Admiral Scott will want to hear about this. So how do we speak to this Commander?”

“Commander, if you are present, we would speak with you.” Rovak said to the blank viewscreen, which showed the view of the pier the Excalibur was moored to in the otherwise empty inner dock. It transitioned suddenly to the Commander, standing at his eclectic control panel in the circular room that apparently existed behind the viewscreen.

“Captain. How can I help?” He asked cheerily.

“This is Vice Admiral Lucas Gali. He is overseeing the command of this sector. He wishes to ask you some questions, if you will assent.”

“Of course.” The Commander said, taking his hands away from the terminal he was working at, and folding them behind his back as he stood at attention.

“Thank you, Commander. Might we speak face-to-face?” Gali asked.

“We may.” The Commander responded, and the screen shut off, showing the inner dock once again. A flat, slightly pixelated hologram of the Commander appeared in the room with them, standing in front of the viewscreen.

“You can’t be here in the flesh?” Gali asked.

“This is as close as I get to flesh. My body was killed. My mind, my essence, are part of the ship now. There are places where I can appear as I was and have some impact on the material world, but elsewhere this projection is the best I can do.” The Commander explained, moving to the Captain’s seat and sitting in it. Gali took a seat at the helm, and rotated it to face the Commander. Rovak remained standing.

“I understand you are, or were, something called a Time Lord. Is that as complicated as it sounds?” Gali asked.

“Formerly, currently and never. We were the people of the planet Gallifrey. We mastered time itself a billion years ago, and learned to keep death at bay shortly after. We were made extinct in the last Great Time War.” Images flashed by on the viewscreen as he spoke. Skies full of Daleks. A towering ancient citadel inside a crystal dome. Haughty politicians wearing resplendent and ostentatious collars and cowls, arguing from dozens of floating platforms in some enormous parliament. Nightmarish biomechanical hordes ravaging entire star systems, only to be consumed by inescapable fire.

“Made extinct how?” Gali dug deeper.

“A living weapon from ancient times. It annihilated all combatants throughout reality. Because my people walled our universe off from other undesirable possibilities outside their curation, there was nowhere to escape to. That is, other than your anomaly, which is the only reason I am here." The Commander explained.

"And do you have any more of these weapons?" Gali asked.

"No. The moment was one of a kind. And the last of the weapons I possessed was used to defeat Dalek Muul." The Commander explained.

"Could you make more?" Gali responded.

"If I had the desire, perhaps. But I should remind you Admiral that my people have a rule not unlike your prime directive, I cannot provide you with technology beyond your current understanding." The Commander said, sounding only vaguely apologetic as he folded his hands in his lap.

"I don't doubt it. What I'm concerned about is the notion that someone else could make you do it. Someone more willing to apply aggressive persuasion." Gali countered.

"Difficult to persuade a dead man with no body. And besides, the Excalibur and I would sooner destroy ourselves than allow ourselves to be party to unjust harm." The Commander stated firmly, standing from his seat.

"I hope you're right. Might I ask if it's true that you took the crew who came aboard this ship back in time?" Gali asked.

"I did." The Commander said, facing the viewscreen.

"Why was that allowed? We don't have conventional access to that kind of technology." Gali queried.

"Because it was my fault that others came to harm. Rules against interfering in another society cut both ways for us. We must protect others from the consequences of our affairs as fervently as we must refuse to involve or uplift them." The Commander admitted.

"So where do you draw the line? If a squad of these Daleks came through the anomaly, would you help or sit back and leave us to our fate?" Gali asked.

"Even Time Lords can't predict the future." The Commander said, sounding slightly conflicted.

"We're grateful for allies Commander, but they need to be reliable. I can't let Captain Rovak and his team acquire an asset that might refuse to function in the event of an ethical misalignment." Gali said.

"I swear solemnly to you Admiral that I will do all that my people's code allows me to in order to assist this station and its crew to conduct their mission and defend your universe from threats beyond. That may at times rely on my judgement and discretion. If that is unacceptable to you, then I understand. We will return through the anomaly at the earliest convenience if that is the case." The Commander said with a polite finality.

"I see." The Admiral said. "So what's your plan then? Spend the rest of time watching the anomaly? Find and explore some new universe? Might be dangerous if you truly don't know what's out there. There's every chance you'd encounter beings mightier than your own people, no?"

"You are right, there is that possibility. But the decision is not mine to make here, Admiral. I offer my cooperation on my terms. You may take it or leave it." The Commander was beginning to sound weary, though his respectful manner remained.

Gali was silent for a long moment, his face expressionless. "I think it's safe to say we'll take it, Commander. I have one final question for you, if I may."

"Please."

"The Captain and his team encountered another being reminiscent of yourself who had the power to send them back to moments before disaster. Called himself a watchman. You know him?" Gali asked, standing from the helm seat.

"A Time Lord?" The Commander answered with sudden vigor.

"I do not believe so." Rovak said. "Unless as a people your features can change drastically beyond the usual humanoid aesthetic."

"Can you describe him?" The Commander asked.

"Blue. Bald. Naked. Glow in the dark." Gali said.

"Just a moment, I'm reviewing your files. No, I'm unfamiliar with him." The Commander said. "But he does sound fascinating. No intrinsic field, that shouldn't be possible on any level of reality. And you are right to observe his abilities could well be beyond my own. I will bear this in mind."

"Thank you for your time, Commander. That will be all. If you should need anything, please let me know." Gali said.

"Admiral." The Commander said with an old-timey British salute.

Rovak gave the Commander a nod, and the image of him vanished. Both men left the bridge.

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